383.0063/22: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Egypt (Kirk)
144. The Department communicated the substance of your 323, April 24, 9 a.m. to Lum69 of the American University, to Reed70 of the United Presbyterian Board, and to Warnshuis71 of the International Missionary Council, with a request for comments. Thus far only Lum has replied. However, we had previously discussed the matter at length with Lum, McClenahan and Reed, and in view of your 380, May 1, 6 p.m. it appears undesirable to delay instructions any longer.
[Page 324]You are authorized to bring the question of restrictive legislation to the attention of the Prime Minister in the sense of the recommendation contained in your no. 323, and to express the additional hope that apart from any question of rights involved, nothing will be done which might be regarded as a backward step.
You may also state that the Department has closely followed the course of the matter and cannot but feel that if the American educational institutions are placed in the defensive position of having to justify their work continuously and in detail, their effectiveness and the enthusiasm of the personnel will be bound to suffer, with adverse results to their contribution to Egyptian education. Sooner or later, these institutions would be bound to consider whether the contribution they are permitted to make is sufficient to justify its continuance. It is hoped that their work will go forward under reasonable conditions in a spirit of mutual respect and confidence.